(photo: wiki media) If youre looking for a fairly painless way to lose weight (or at least not gain) researchers at Brigham Young University have a new solution for you: Put yourself on a regular sleep schedule. People who maintain an unvarying sleep routine have a lower percentage of body fat than those who keep irregular sleep hours, says a new study , published in the American Journal of Health Promotion. Led by Bruce Bailey, professor of exercise science at Brigham Young, researchers followed 300 female college students, ages 19 to 26, who were given activity trackers to monitor their movements and activities, including waking and sleeping times. The study participants were assessed for body composition before and after the one-week study period. What the researchers found: Getting less than 6.5 hours of sleep and more than 8.5 hours of sleep was linked to higher body fat High quality sleep was associated with lower body fat while poor sleep correlated with higher body fat Waking and going to sleep at the same time every day (particularly a consistent wake time) was most strongly linked with lower body fat The difference in body weight was greater with more variation in sleep pattern. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2013/11/21/easiest-weight-loss-tip-ever-change-your-sleep-schedule/

15 Worst Snacks for Weight Loss

Go for a skim latte instead, which contains no added sugar and only 130 calories. Instead of: A chocolate pudding cup Reach for: One ounce of dark chocolate When you’re craving something chocolate-y a pudding cup gets a good rep as a diet-friendly treat. But you’ll satisfy your craving more if you go for the real deal, an ounce of 70% (or higher) dark chocolate. It contains 168 calories (just a few more calories than the average pudding cup, which ranges from 120 to 150 calories), plus less sugar and carbs, and more satiating fiber. The chocolate also has antioxidant-packed cocoa, which, per a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, may be the reason people who eat it a few times a week are thinner than those who don’t. If portioning is an issue for you, Endangered Species Organic Dark Chocolate Chimp Mints ($50, pack of 64; amazon.com ) come in .35 oz each (so you can have 3!), or try 1-oz Scharffen Berger 70% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate bars ($4; amazon.com). For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/15-worst-snacks-weight-loss-155700678.html

Amphetamine-like compounds found in weight loss supplements

An athlete competing in canoeing qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics was disqualified after traces of the compound were found in his system. RELATED: SUPPLEMENTS OFFER NO CLEAR DISEASE PROTECTION: STUDY It’s the second time in recent weeks that scientists have found the compounds in dietary supplements, but the FDA has yet to issue warnings to consumers, USA Today reports . The research is published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. The garcinia cambogia scientists were also concerned that all 21 of the supplements they tested included another drug called Acacia rigidula, described as a “bushy plant found in Texas and Mexico,” which appears to never have been tested for safety in humans. RELATED: FAT-BURNING SUPPLEMENT LINKED TO LIVER FAILURE, HEPATITIS “This is a brand new drug being placed into a number of supplements under the guise of a natural ingredient,” Pieter Cohen, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, told USA Today . For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/amphetamine-like-compounds-found-weight-loss-supplements-article-1.1523646